Border Issue Mexico
 

I entered Mexcico about 4 years ago. Went in with proper Mexican paperwork(sticker etc) and came back out without checking out(did it many times before). When trying enter again a year later(different bike), they said I still had a bike im Mexico and would not let me in. Bike that they say is in Mexico has since been sold by me to another person in my state of Mn, but I can't locate bike. My State Dept of Motor Vehicles can't locate it either. Anyone know how I can clear up Mexico records so I can re-enter Mexico???

Hhmmm.... I take it you're not trying to enter Mexico now?

I'd ask the DMV to provide a notarized letter saying you're not the owner. Then, take your bill of sale and notarize it.

Even if you don't have one, write one out and have it notarized as "I certify that BMW/Honda/etc VIN number xxxxxxxxxxx was sold to XXXXXXXXXX on (date) for $xxxx.

The more stamps and such, the better but nothing is guarenteed until the man in Mexico lets you through.

If push comes to shove, hell, make up a bill of sale to a friend and have that notarized. They'll never know and with the DMV letter saying you don't own it, it should be sufficient.

***** LESSON: save those certificates that you're given when you clear your vehicle departing Mexico and take it back next time with you. ******

I ran into this same situation earlier this year. When I left Mexico last year, I did not check out my vehicle with Mexican Customs. Since their big fear is Americans driving/riding in and then selling their vehicle in Mexico without paying tarrifs, they are watching this very closely using computers. I had to go back into TX and get my insurance company to fax me a statement saying the vehicle was in an accident in PA to prove that the vehicle had left Mexico. It took me about two days of phone calls to accomplish this feat. Luckily, Mexican Customs accepted this info and gave me a temp import sticker for my new vehicle.

Like k7lro said, make sure you take the time to check your vehicle out when you leave Mexico. I would also suggest that you keep a document file for all previous exits handy, so if Mexican customs does screw up and says you didn't check out when you did, you have the documents to prove it. Otherwise you are not going back in with your vehicle.

When I was leaving Mexico from the Creel meeting I crossed the border solo. As I approached the border I was unsure of where to stop and pulled over to asses the situation. For some reason I figured I would have to park on the opposite side from where I parked when I entered Mexico. As I sat there like an idiot for some time a guard started waiving me to keep going. I figured he realized that I needed to check out my vehicle and proceeded even though it seemed that I could only go through to the US if I proceeded straight. Well, that's exactly what happened, I went straight to the toll booth and 'departed' Mexico. I knew that was bad so I immediately pulled over and was soon confronted by another guard. My moto was preventing the trucks from passing. I'm not sure if he understood my spanish but he wanted me to jumpt the curb and park on the sidewalk. He also said I would have to walk back out and pay another departure fee. The curb was pretty high so I just pulled over at a spot where the large trucks could get by and walked over to the other side of the street and over into Mexico (no physical barriers). I slide my paper through the window and the man who took it disappeared. I didn't know if that was it or what and there was no one to ask. Eventually the man came out and wanted to see the bike. I showed him where it was (in the US) and he just turned around and went back in the office and eventually gave me some paperwork.

This is a long way of saying that preparation is critical. Had I not read about border crossing I would have drived straight through the border.

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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/